Cold Leak down test
 

So, I did a leak down on this engine.

Engine has been out of a car for at least 18 months. Don't know the maintenance history, but I bought it from 928Int.

Looks like it has had regular maintenance as the cam gears look newish with belt appearance good.

Intake and fuel components are off.
So how totally unreliable are the leak down results with this engine in this state since it hasn't run in about 2 years?

Cold or warm..you wanna see consistent values...IMHO.

Sitting, there could be a chance that a low cyl is just rings not sitting right after time..

But more importantly, if something is not even with the others, listen..you hear the leak from the oil fill tube, or in the exhaust header?

Post the numbers.

Numbers
 

Umm normally you would do a leak down before doing machine work.

Merlin you crack me up..

I haven't started on my engine yet. Just removed the intake and exhaust.

I am at the machine shop being a fly on the wall. Learning about the engine build process and basically interviewing to see if I will use this shop.

He has let me observe and be involved for the last two days. An amazing education. cleared up a great deal of my questions.

So engine numbers are as below.

He also told me not to get concerned as the engine has sat and don a cross country trip.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...38ce479572.jpg
So, I think I can begin the tear down of my engine.

I will post another thread about advice and opinions.
At a minimum the heads will get new seals and guides if needed. machined as necessary. Block may get rings and rod bearings. I haven't convinced myself of that yet, if there aren't obvious issues.

Where did you hear leaking coming from?

Thats as important as numbers.

Mostly from below I think.

I took the tester back today, but I have one that the % gauge is inaccurate. I will redo the test just to hear the escapes.

I actually think it was a combination of the exhaust and past the pistons. If I recall, very little from the intake side.

And so it begins.

Well I guess I misunderstood your first post,
it definitely would have made things more clear if the picture of your leakdown numbers was in post 1 instead of post 6

True Dat

Did you oil the cylinders prior to the test?

I oiled #1 only, just for a reference.

Completely useless, as a compression test will also be.

Choice 1: Just make sure that there actually is compression in each cylinder, stick it in, and hope for the best.
Choice 2: As long as the intake is off and it's out of the car, pull the heads, replace the head gaskets, have a good machine shop do a valve grind, and surface the heads. (The engine is how many years old?)

Sounds like a plan
 

Removing heads